Keys Comes Good As Stephens Falters In Cincinnatti

Elvis Iwuamadi

6 months ago

Madison Keys ended a run of defeats to Angelique Kerber with a hard-fought win over the German to reach the Cincinnatti quarter-finals. The 2017 US Open finalist dodged the storms and the Kerber forehand to end a losing streak of five straight matches against the world number four.

Keys hit 35 forehand winners of her own, including the match-ending shot, to record a 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 win that puts her through to the last eight at the Western and Southern Open for the first time.
The 23-year-old from Illinois is expecting to draw a lot of attention later this month at Flushing Meadow, where she lost to Sloane Stephens in the 2017 final – her best showing in a Grand Slam event.

“I think it’s the first time I’m going to have to be someone defending, getting to the finals of a Slam,” she said. “I have never done it. That’s going to be a new experience for me.”
Number three seed Stephens lost to Elise Mertens 7-6 (8) with 37 unforced errors helping the Belgian claim only her second career win over a Top 5 player.